Introduction:

The environment of the bay of Santiago de Cuba is home to 27 polluting sources; including 22 industries and facilities, 4 rivers and the Trocha river drainage, all causing the deterioration of the ecosystem, being the second most polluted bay in Cuba.

Objective:

To show the variability of the pollution of the Bay of Santiago de Cuba between the years 2006 and 2020.

Materials and Methods:

In 2006 and 2020, the samples were taken in the morning, always at the same time, on the surface and at a depth of one meter along the east shore and at the entrance of the Bay. The parameters pH, nitrites, nitrates, ammonium, phosphate, chemical and biochemical oxygen demands, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids and turbidity were sampled. The samples were analyzed in the laboratories of the Oriente Geomining Company of Hygiene and Epidemiology and in the National Company of Assistance and Technical Services of Santiago de Cuba.

Results and Discussion:

In 2006, the waters of La Estrella beach could be used as a bathing area and the rest of the Bay area’s for recreational fishing, except for the area corresponding to the Flour Factory. In 2020, the figures obtained indicated pollution in the waters of the Bay at the entrance and in the interior, highlighting a high content of suspended solids.

Conclusions:

The characteristics of the waters of the Bay of Santiago de Cuba in 2020 deteriorated with respect to the reports made in 2006.

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